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TO 

R A. M: B L E B 

FROM THK 



A visitor to tlie Catskh.l Mountain House has 
hastily drawn up the following as a guide for 
strangers in their rambles. 

NOKTH MOUNTAIN. 

Take the road from the House leading down the 
Mountain : at the first turn in the road leading 
east, immediately on a ledge of rocks fronting east, 
take the more easterly path. Along this path you 
will have a more northerly view than can be had 
at any other part of the mountain. 

After passing some three-quarters of a mile north- 
ward, an abrupt rock rises directly in front of the 
path ; take the more northerly path, and from the 
summit of this rock a fine view can be had of both 
lakes — Round To^d and High Peak. On the north 
side of this rock, a fine echo can be had ; four dis- 
tinct reverberations can be heard. Going still 
further north, you come to an abrupt precipice, 
which is ascended by a ladder. At this point a 
large cavern will be found, known as the Bear's 



2 

Den. Old hunters say that it was the winter 
resting and gathering place for the bears. 

After ascending the ladder, a still more northerly 
view can be had. 

The Adirandachs, Green Mountains, Greene County 
and portions of Schoharie and Albany can be seen 
At this point, the cities of Albany and Troy can l:>e 
seen with a telescope. The ledges facing the east 
are abrupt and precipitous. 

HEAD OF the: NORTM IjAKIS. 

At tlie point at which you leave the road down 
the mountain for the North Mountain, take the 
westerly path. You will have a delightful ramble, 
a portion of the way, along the eastern shore of 
the North Lake. 

SOUTH MOUNTAIN. ^ 

Take the path leading up the South Mountain, 
directly south of the House. 

About two-thirds of the way up the mountain, 
Pudding-Stone Hall will be entered. In this 
vicinity, large masses of pudding-stone will be 
found. The hall proper is a narrow fissure in the 
rocks, in which the mass of rock has been separated 
by the action of frost and water. After ascending 
from Pudding-Stone Hall, go a short distance east 
— take a path underneath the ledge westerly. This 
path passes through a rich collection of lichen, 
moss, and fern, past the Portico Rocks, and ter- 
minates at Fairy Spring. A view of this gem of | 
tho mountains compensates for any fatigue that 



s 

may be encountered in the ramble. After visiting 
the Spring, retrace your steps a short distance and 
turn to the south through a small fissure in the 
rock, and ascend to the summit of the South Moun- 
tain. This pass is known among the mounttiineers 
as the " Lemon Squeezer," and, among artists, as 
the " Elfin Pass." After attaining the summit, a 
large boulder to the south will be seen. This is a . 
prominent landmark in this part of the mountain. 
Your course will be directed for this boulder, from 
whence the best view of the Cauderskill Clo^ e and 
the surrounding mountains will be had, and a view 
more southerly than at any other point. The 
Shawangunh range and the Minmnh Moujitains in 
Kew Jersey, and the pass of the Hudson in the 
Highlands, can be seen. The period of the dtiy to 
visit the North or South Mountain is either about 
sunrise or in the afternoon. Near this boulder on 
the South Mountain, along the face of the ledge 
fronting south, will be found huge masses of rock 
detached from the face of the ledge by the action 
of frost and water. 

A little to the east of the boulder will be liound 
a fissure in the rock, through which is a pass lead- 
ing southerly to the precipices overhanging the 
Clove — a very rough path. 

To return, you will go north from the boulder 
until you make a slight ascent, and then follow the 
path north near the edge of the ledge until you 
reach Pudding-Stone Hall. A little to the eouth 
of the Hause, on the face of the ledge, are natural 



steps in the face of the rock, by which, with some 
care, a descent may be made in front of the House. 

SOUTH liAKS:. 

A beautiful view of the South Lake can be had, 
by leaving the road leading west from the Moun- 
tain House about a third of a mile, and turning to 
the left. 

NORTH liAKlB. 

By taking the road west and leaving it at a short 
distance before arriving at the junction of the two 
lakes, turning to the right, the remains of an old 
road will be found. Follow this road easterly 
until you make the first descent, and then turn to 
the north. At this point will be found a large 
cranberry bed and a very rare plant. The leaf is 
in the form of a cup, and is always two-thirds filled 
with watet by capillary attraction. 

To the north of this lake, to those who have a 
desire to see mountain life, may be found a Bear 
Trap, in which Mr. Thokp— the " Man of the Moun- 
tain" — caught three bears in the Fall of 1857, with 
the singular bait of dry codfish and honey. 

THE CAUI»£:RSK:iIiIi FAIiliS. 

There are two foot-paths leading to the Falls — 
one directly in the rear of the Barns — the other 
turning to the left after passing the Lakes near the 
corner of the fence — distance about two miles. 

By calling at the office and getting a boat, the 



lake can be passed, and a short ramble brings you 
to tlie Falls. 

A preferable way is to take the omnibus that 
leaves the House twice a day, and runs over a good 
mountain road, giving the passenger a pleasant 
rural ride, unlike any that can ordinarily be had in 
the country. 

The stream that forms the outlet of the lakes 
passes over two precipices — the first of a height of 
one hundred and eighty feet — the second of ninety 
feet. 

The scenery and views at the Falls are unsur- 
passed. Underneath the first Fall is a path passing 
directly in the rear of the Fall around an amphi- 
theatre. 

At one point the rock projects overhead eighty 
feet. The amphitheatre is a perfect " whispering 
gallery." By following the stream, a rough moun- 
tain path will be foimd, leading to the Cauders- 
KELL Clove. 

THE CAUDERSKIIili CL.OVE 

Lies south of the Mountain House — is a wild gorge 
in the mountains, running nearly north and south. 
A good turnpike road leads through it. Abrupt 
precipices inclose it on every side — some are over 
two thousand feet. Over one of them two hounds 
were in such close pursuit of a deer, that in the 
eagerness of escape and pursuit • all leaped the 
precipice and were lost. In this gorge are several 
falls — the one at the head of the Clove is well worth 
a visit. Another, called the " Fawn's Leap," will 



6 

be found a short distance below tlie Old Tannery. 
An old legend is, that a doe made the leap of the 
chasm over the fall, and that her fawn, in attempt- 
ing to follow, fell into the deep pool made by the 
fall, and swam round the pool for two days, the 
doe remaining near and watching it. Below and 
above the bridge are also beautiful falls. 

MOSES' ROCBL. 

Descending the road leading down the moun- 
tain aljout three-quarters of a mile, turn to the first 
path to the right, and follow the old mountain road 
to the south about the same distance. At this 
jjoint yap. reach a large mass of rock, some thirty 
feet in height by eighty feet in length, cover- 
ed with moss. A short distance from the base 
H small stream of water issues from a circular fissure 
in the rock. A more beautiful spot cannot be 
found in the mountains, nor cooler and better 
water. 

To a good pedestrian, a beautiful walk will be 
found from this spofto the foot of the mountain, 
leading along the old mountain road to the small 
red house directly below the Mountain House. — 
From this house take the road leading south until 
you strike the road leading through the Clove; 
follow this road until you cross the bridge above 
the Old Tannery, over the Cauderskill; turn to 
the right and follow the path along the South Lake 
to the House. 

On the ledge above Moses' Rock, a large tree will 
be found, marked. From this a new path has been 



cut, leading to the precipice overhanging the Clove. 
From this point a better appreciation of height can 
be had than at any other point on the mountains. 

BEAR'S GAP, OR STONKY CLOVE. 

This is some nine miles west of the Mountain 
House, and is one of the wildest spots in the Cats- 
kills. The gorge is a narrow one — the precipices 
over two thousand feet. Ice can be found in it in 
July and August ; small brook trout are found in 
the stream passing through it, and with a Minie 
rifle a shot can be had at an eagle. 
HIGH POAK. 

Take the road leading west some five miles, then 
turn into a road leading south to the south side of 
the mountain. From this point procure a guide, 
and from High Peak one of the most extensive 
views can be had that will be found in the whole 
range of mountains. This is the mountain upon 
which, (agreeably to the Indian tradition,) the 
" Great Spirit" placed an old squaw and gave her 
the control of night and day. She had a box, 
which when she opened it was day, and when she 
closed it was night. She took down the moon at 
certain seasons, and cut it up and placed the pieces 
in the heavens as stars. 

High Peak is the barometer for the farmers in 
the valley of the Hudson. It is a common saying 
with them, that " When the Old Man of the Moun- 
tains puts on his cap, look out for a storm." Keai 
the base of the High Peak, in the early settlement 



8 

of tlic country, there was a place of refuge for the 
Tories after the burning of Kingston, during the 
Revolutionary war. They are said J;o have been 
guided to the place by an old Indian called Yonton, 
a compeer of Leather Stocking. 

On the retuiTi from the High Peak or Stoney 
Clove, by going to Parker's — about a mile north 
of Gray's — a view of the range of mountains, run- 
ning eaat and west, can be had, which will well 
r^ay any one for the small sacrifice of time. 

PliATTEItlliL, CiiOVE. 

This gorge in the mountains lies about six -miles 
south of the Cauderskill Clove, and can be reached 
by either descending the mountain road and pass- 
ing in front of the house, or by taking the road to 
the High Peak. 

This Clove is well worthy of a visit from any one 
who has a taste for wild mountain passes. It is 
unlike the Cauderskill Clove, and in many respects 
surf)asses it in wildness and grandeur. There are 
several falls in the stream passing through it. This 
is one of the passes through which the French and 
Indians are said to have found their way in their 
attacks upon the early settlers of the valley of the 
Hudson. 



CATSKILIm 
J. JOESBUKY BOOK & JOB PRINTER. 

iae3. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 







014 107 702 8 ^ 



